Top 50 phrases to get by China: Dining out
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Key Phrases
请给我两位的桌子。
qǐng gěi wǒ liǎng wèi de zhuō zi
A table for two, please.
我要点菜。
wǒ yào diǎn cài
I would like to order.
请买单。
qǐng mǎi dān
The bill, please.
Skills You'll Learn
Request a table and respond to basic seating questions at a restaurant.
在餐厅请求座位并回答基本的入座问题。
zài cān tīng qǐng qiú zuò wèi bìng huí dá jī běn de rù zuò wèn tí
Order food and ask for menu items, recommendations, and dietary changes.
点菜，并询问菜单、推荐菜和饮食要求调整。
diǎn cài bìng xún wèn cài dān tuī jiàn cài hé yǐn shí yāo qiú tiáo zhěng
Ask for the bill, choose a payment method, and request takeaway service.
要求买单、选择付款方式，并请求打包服务。
yāo qiú mǎi dān xuǎn zé fù kuǎn fāng shì bìng qǐng qiú dǎ bāo fú wù
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
请给我两位的桌子。
qǐng gěi wǒ liǎng wèi de zhuō zi
A table for two, please.
💬 [两位] is the polite restaurant way to say "two people." You can swap the number: [一位] (one person), [三位] (three people).
See breakdown →你们有预订吗？
nǐ men yǒu yù dìng ma
Do you have a reservation?
我有预订。
wǒ yǒu yù dìng
I have a reservation.
几位？
jǐ wèi
How many people?
💬 [几位？] literally means "how many people?" with [位], a polite counting word for people. You'll hear the same pattern in [几个人？], but [位] sounds more courteous.
See breakdown →这边请。
zhè biān qǐng
This way, please.
🇨🇳 Staff say this all the time when leading you to a table, seat, or counter. You usually just follow; no reply is needed beyond maybe [谢谢].
See breakdown →我可以看看菜单吗？
wǒ kě yǐ kàn kàn cài dān ma
May I see the menu?
菜单
cài dān
Menu
请给我一份菜单。
qǐng gěi wǒ yī fèn cài dān
Please give me a menu.
💬 [一份] uses [份], a counting word often used for menus, documents, and set portions. The pattern is useful: [一份菜单], [一份报纸].
See breakdown →你推荐什么？
nǐ tuī jiàn shén me
What do you recommend?
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Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
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